Location Analytics has changed the way marketing and commercial strategies are defined in the fast-food restaurant franchise business.
Understanding consumers’ behavior patterns is critical for all types of restaurants. Big Data tools play a very important role in this analysis, since they make possible to measure the foot traffic and mobility patterns of a specific area or location, among other variables.
Evaluating the commercial environment of each sales point of, for example, a bakery chain, is key to sizing the turnover potential of each location, a fundamental input for efficiently designing the expansion plan to compete in other micromarkets.
Using the Geomarketing solutions we have developed for our clients, CentralAmericaData's Trade Intelligence team analyzed the environment of some of the main locations of the bakery and pastry chains operating in Central America. Below is an extract of the study's findings.
Recruiting the best staff to operate the points of sale and reducing the costs of the initial investments to set up a franchise are some of the challenges faced by franchisers, who expect better sales in 2020.
Access to financing, containment of operating costs, and maintaining profitability levels are other issues of concern to franchisors in Guatemala.
On July 17 and 18 representatives of international franchises from different sectors will be showcasing their business models and meeting with companies interested in acquiring their franchises.
EXPO FRANQUICIA 2018 is being organized by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama, and will bring together more than 100 companies showcasing 70 exhibition modules from a variety of chains including restaurants , desserts, pastry shops and bakeries, air conditioning technical services, pre-school education, photography and design, manicures and pedicures, business networks, automotive service, and footwear, among others.
Ink and toner refills with latest generation machinery exclusively for the franchisee in Central America, investment opportunity with fast return.
Ink and toner refills with latest generation machinery exclusively for the franchisee in Central America. At the same time, complementary services such as copies, printing are offered. Document lamination, document scanning, Internet Express and other office consumables.
The US company Denny's has announced the opening of its first restaurant in Guatemala City, which will be operated by a company of Honduran origin called Comidas Especializadas.
From a press release by Denny´s:
SPARTANBURG, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Denny'sCorporation (NASDAQ:DENN), one of the world's largest full-service family dining chains, today announced the opening of its first restaurant in Guatemala located on Liberacion Blvd. near the airport. The new restaurant is owned and operated by Honduras-based franchisee, Comidas Especializadas S. de R.L., led by experienced franchisee Mr. Roberto Larach, an existing Denny’s franchise partner. This newest location in Guatemala marks the 13thcountry in Denny’s global portfolio.
The chain Payless ShoeSource has filed for bankruptcy and announced a plan to restructure its operations, which will not affect those it has in Central America.
The regional trade fair for franchises 'Expofranquicias 2016', will be held on 12th and 13th of May in Costa Rica.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica:
Costa Rica, March 14, 2016. More than 100 exhibiting companies and 4,000 investors from the Caribbean, North, Central and South America and Europe, will participate in the seventh version of the only regional trade fair for franchises: Expofranquicia, which will be held on 12th and 13th of May in Costa Rica with the aim of promoting the opening of new franchises in the region.
The main business association has announced the trade fairs Expocomer, Expo Franchise, Expo Tourism, Expo Medical, Expo Furniture and Expo Logistics , to be held between March and October 2016.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP):
Panama, March 02, 2016.- The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture Panama (CCIAP) has officially launched a set of six exhibitions that will take place between March and October this year, in order to encourage and stimulate various economic sectors and business in the country.
From 6 to 7 May companies and investors in the sector will be in in San José taking part in business meetings and conferences relevant to franchises in the region.
The second edition of the American Franchise Summit will be held at the Hotel Park Inn, Costa Rica and will involve seven international speakers. The event will last two days and is aimed at 150 franchisees and franchisors investors with the aim of promoting business appointments.
Costa Rica and Guatemala are leading a market in which 300 brands based on this business model already operate, 125 of which are native to the region.
Of the 300 franchises existing in the region, 125 were created by Central American companies that have adopted this business model, becoming the fourth largest market for international franchise in Latin America.
The event to be held on May 14 in San Jose, Costa Rica, will focus on analyzing the different franchise models implemented in the region and elsewhere.
From a press release issued by the Costa Rican National Franchise Center:
The activity will form a space for awareness of this model both nationally and internationally.
The best experts in the world of franchises will meet in Costa Rica at the the I Central American Franchise Summit which aims to promote this model both nationally and internationally.
Only a few Latin American countries have a mature franchise market, creating an opportunity for other franchisors.
Experts agree on this, believing that Latin America represents a perfect market for expansion. Every year the industry generates about $80 million and consists of more than 5000 brands, reporting growth exceeding 10%.
Through an investigation, the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer) concluded that Guatemala is one of the potential markets for Costa Rican franchises, however, employers should bear in mind certain considerations before deciding where to expand.
There is a growing trend among hotel chains to buy international franchises in order to improve their management.
For example, in Costa Rica, the Ramada Herradura changed its name to Wyndham Herradura following an investment of $1 million last December. In 2011, the Gran Hotel Costa Rica transformed its brand, changing its name to Gran Hotel Costa Rica Ascend Collection.